Sandwell school staff attacked by pupils 296 times

All of the recorded attacks happened in primary or special schools, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

There were no assaults recorded at secondary schools.

Council bosses today said they take any allegations of assault against teachers or school staff 'very seriously'.

A total of 296 attacks were logged during the two-year period which comprise the 2013/14 and 2014/15 academic years. Twenty-three of the assaults resulting in one or more pupils being suspended.

Sandwell Council's director of education, Chris Ward, said the authority works to prevent incidents alongside support from unions.

"We have 55,000 children in our schools, so these figures show that acts of violence and aggression against school staff are extremely rare.

"However, when they do occur, we take them very seriously.

"We strongly encourage schools to report incidents, so that behaviour can be managed and staff can be supported. These matters are also monitored and discussed with trade union safety representatives at the School Central Safety Committee.

"Schools are required to carry out risk assessments and develop behaviour plans to manage pupils with behavioural issues and we provide training and support to school staff.

"I consider this to be a very serious matter for teachers, staff and for parents and I can assure everyone that we will continue to do all we can to prevent such incidents, he added.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that dozens of teachers have been assaulted at schools in Wolverhampton in the past academic year.

Twenty-four primary school teachers were attacked and eight secondary school staff, according to a Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton council.

The incidents, which included physical assaults, threatening behaviour and verbal abuse, took place between September 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015.

In primary schools there were 17 physical assaults, four incidences of threatening behaviour and three of verbal abuse.

In secondary schools there were four physical assaults and two occasions of verbal abuse, while there were also two physical assaults recorded at an academy school.

Figures reported in 2014 revealed that in Wolverhampton, there were 78 reports of attacks on staff at city schools between April 2011 and July 2013, with 14 incidents at secondary schools, 52 in primary schools, four in junior schools and eight in infant schools.

Reports ranged from verbal abuse and spitting to 'threatening' behaviour, punching and kicking.